Afghani transit not dangerous for Russia – CSTO Secretary General

“It is important to realise that Islamists will try to use to the utmost the religious factor for achieving their political objectives,” Borduzha continued

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LONDON, February 21 (Itar-Tass) – The removal of troops of the international coalition from Afghanistan continues normally and does not contain any dangers for Russia, Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation /CSTO/ Nikolai Borduzha said on Wednesday at the Russian embassy in the capital city of the United Kingdom.

“The removal of troops from Afghanistan does not cause any problems for us,” he said after he made a speech on security and stability in the Central Asian region. “I cannot see any major challenges in that direction.”

“We follow permanently the transit process – both one way and the return,” he said. “Moreover, we are even coordinating positions of our countries in providing this transit.”

At the same time, the situation in Afghanistan remains a main issue on the CSTO’s agenda, he continued. The current complicated situation in that country and in the region “will aggravate after the process of removing the Western coalition’s troops is over.”

“An additional risk is the remaining activity of extremist religious groups,” Borduzha said. “Those groups are spreading their influence on the CSTO member countries, trying to organise there the extremist terror underground so that later on to destabilise the situation.”

“Religion as it is cannot cause threats,” he said. “The danger comes from the extremists, who are trying to use spread of the Islamism for their benefit. Lately, those elements have become more active to attract the believers to the groups of radical Islam followers.”

“It is important to realise that Islamists will try to use to the utmost the religious factor for achieving their political objectives,” Borduzha continued. “Opposing to the organisation of the kind in the region is the Organisation’s second most important task after the problem of Afghanistan itself.”

Among main risk factors to be prepared for after the international coalition removes its forces from Afghanistan would be “instability at the republic’s borders, human trade, illegal migration and drug trafficking,” he said.